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GDB

A file GeoDataBase (GDB) is a collection of files in a folder on disk that can store, query, and manage both spatial (vector and raster) and nonspatial data. Its storage mechanism of platform is SQL Server Express (*.mdf)

Table of contents

• Quick overview
• Introduction
• Additional documentation
• Mosaic Dataset (Raster)
• Additional resources

Quick overview

• Purpose: Store, query, and manage both spatial (vector and raster) and nonspatial data.
• Data type: vector and raster
• Type of format: GIS
• Multi-file format: Yes
• File type: binary
• File extension(s): .gdb, .zip
• Originally developed by: Esri (2006)
• Technical description/specification: File geodatabase API
• License: Unknown
• Regulated by: Esri
• Status: proprietary
• Sample file(s): ArcGIS Online public File GeoDatabases
• Consumable by:
  • ArcGIS Pro - How to
  • ArcMap - How to
  • ArcGIS Enterprise through ArcGIS Server - How to
  • ArcGIS Runtime for Java (supported only if using local server)
  • ArcGIS Runtime for .NET (supported only if using local server)
  • ArcGIS Runtime for Qt (Supported only if using C++ API and local server. Not supported with QML API.)
  • ArcObjects
  • ...

Introduction

It is the evolution from the personal geodatabase and it was introduced in ArcMap 9.2 (2006). It is also preferred over the shapefile.

Description: A collection of various types of GIS datasets held in a file system folder.(This is the recommended native data format for ArcGIS stored and managed in a file system folder.)

Number of users: Single user and small workgroups:many readers or one writer per feature dataset, stand-alone feature class, or table. Concurrent use of any specific file eventually degrades for large numbers of readers.

Storage format: Each dataset is a separate file on disk. A file geodatabase is a file folder that holds its dataset files.

Size limits: One TB for each dataset. Each file geodatabase can hold many datasets. The 1 TB limit can be raised to 256 TB for extremely large image datasets. Each feature class can scale up to hundreds of millions of vector features per dataset.

Versioning support: Only supported as a geodatabase for clients who post updates using checkout and check-in and as a client to which updates can be sent using one-way replication.

Platforms: Cross-platform.

Security and permissions: Operating file system security.

Database administration tools: File system management.

Notes: You can optionally store data in a read-only compressed format to reduce storage requirements.

Additional documentation

• Vídeo: Geodatabase Fundamentals
• Comparing the three types of geodatabases
• License a file geodatabase: You can share data in a file geodatabase with other people and apply a license that determines the length of time they can use the data or whether they can export feature classes.

Mosaic Dataset (Raster)

Mosaic dataset is the way to work with raster in a GeoDatabase an it reference to lo original source (TIF, ...)

Additional resources

Probably not all the resources are in this list, please use the ArcGIS Search tool looking for: "file geodatabase".